The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-07
THE WHITE RIVER DISASTER
Five More Bodies Recovered, Swelling
the Total of Dead to Thirty-Two.
The Loss Of Life Less than Indicated by First
Reports-Commendable Work of Railway
People in Dealing with the Wreck.

NHITE IsINER JUNCTlOS, w., ICo. " 49,
ably eight thousand persons visited the scene OF
the railroad accident to-day. The only trains
run were for the accommodation of officials and
for carrying wounded and dead; consequently
all manner Of conveyances were brought into
requisition, many teams coming from distance
of forty and fifty miles, and centering here IN
long professions. Seven or eight bodies were |
to-day identified by friends, and many heart
rending scenes were witnessed. 1t is utterly i'm
possible to identify more than ten or twelve OF
those recovered, the clothing being entirely gone
and the bodies burned to crisp. Conductor
Sturtevant died to-day, and his body was taken
to his home by special train. Mr. Tewkes-
berry, of Randolph. whose leg and arm were
broken was taken home last night by a special
train and is reported IS doing well.
Arrangements have been completed for send
ing all freight via the Wells river, or the Rut
land road, until the new trestle which was be-
gun to-day, is completed. All passenger trains
from points north of Montpelier are to go via
the Wells River road, while for local points be
tween here and there arrangements for trans
ferrng by the break with little delay made.
The damage to rolling stock is estimated at $780,,
900. A wooden bridge like the old one will cost
500. 900. but the new structure will probably be
built of iron, costing $4,000. The money loss
to the road from the interruption to travel will
be large. The work Of recovering wreckage
and bodies has been pushed vigorously all day
The ruins have been infinitely searched, and
probably all bodies recovered that can be. The
iron work of the cars has all been pulled over
and cleared away.
The total number of bodies recovered to-day is
fve-one woman and four men. Drs. Grinnel
and Bingham, of Burlington, have to-day thor
oughly examined the charred remains of victims
thus far recovered, for the purpose of ascertain
ing the number. They report it to be, up to this
morning, just twenty seven, which, with the five
found to-day, makes thirty-two recovered thus
far This statement is verified by Lieutenant
governor Fuller Mr.. FuIler is doing everything
In his power for all sufferers. He has been in
strumental In establishing bureau of informa-
tion. All communications regarding passengers
should be addressed to Henry E. Tinker, Station
agent, White River Junction, VT. Mr. Fuller
also indorses the statement that, from all in
formation obtainable at this time FROM connect
ing road ticket agents and survivors of
the disaster, it is believed the total
number of sonls board the Inflated train
including trainmen, was eighty-one. OF these.
thirty-two are accounted for as above, thirty
five are in the of surgeons, one died to-day
and nine left the came train with the unn-
jured, leaving only four unaccounted for. 1t is
understood there some children without
tickets, SO the above figures may be slightly
changed.
Every article of clothing, scrap of paper, or
!. other thing found is being carefully saved for
~ &c
friends unaccounted for will be afforded every
means or cew to the Identification of the lost or
unknown. The best of police protection has been
given from the first. Some of the wreck has
been roped off, and the sheriff, assisted by num-
erous special deputies, permits only workmen
and interested known parties inside. 1t is be-
lisved that so far no thieving has occurred.
Little idea can be formed of the difficulties in
the way Of obtaining report of the accident
that would give the public an idea of the condi-
tion OF things at the time of the disaster. and
ever since the thermometer has registered from
five to fifteen degrees below zero. The suffer
Ing from cold was intense. There are only two
or three farmhou within two miles of the
wreck and these filled with
wounded. Others scattered along fol
three four miles, with no means
of communication except by train
All the road officials the ground anG
everything possible is being done for the wound
ed and dead. Hundreds o. people searching fol
their friends here, and nearly every news
paper in New England has a Representative a
the scene of the wreck. Work was suspended a
dark last night, owing to the severity of thu
weather but was resumed this morning. Thu
water in White river, at the place Of the acct
dent, Is not more than five or six feet deep, will
but little current, aud the ice is perhaps four
teen inches thick The falling of the cars upo,
it and the heat of the fire melted the ice clean
but little or tho personal effect
of passengers being left to reveal til,
identity of their owners. A comparison Of the
tickets taken up by tho conductors Of the in
coming and connecting trains largely reduces
the number 81 persons on the train Conductor
Andrew BeoE. of the Boston & Lowell railroad
gives the exact number of tickets takel
up for points beyond where the acciden
occurred thirty-six, of which six
teen were collected in the car s.Pil
GRIM" from Boston Conductor Barrett, OF tn
Connecticut River railroad counts his as jus
thirty. twelve OF these being for the car S,
Adams from Springfield. This leaves only tn
very few who probably came over the Passumr
sic and those starting from here, probably 10
exceeding ten in all, besides the railroad me
who were in the train OF these thirty five ar
accounted for among the wounded, and tn
plumber of those in the smoker is variously est
mated at from forty to fifty.
Charles H. Pierce, of this place, engineer o
the wrecked train is about thirty-eight year
DID, He has been employed on the road as er
gineer for fourteen years, and is considered on
of the company's most faithful employees. A
accounts agree with his statement, that althoug
the train was about an hour late. and had bee
running, perhaps thirty miles an hour yet at tn
time of the accident he had slowed up to abou
fifteen or twenty miles an hour as is the usu
custom in crossing long bridges No blam
whatever is attached to him. and after the acc
dent both he and fremen Thresher, of st. A
bans rendered heroic and efficient aid in reset
Ing passengers. Mr.. Pierce proceeded to S
Adams with his engine and the rest of the trai
after all had boon done that could be and plent
of help had arrived. Flo is now at st. Alban
In ar exhausted condition.
In Room 3d. at the Junction House. is Andre
Wheeler, about 81 years old, with bad Gu
49, l.o